After an Olympic loss, White realized his problem wasn't physical skill but a lack of motivation. He fixed his life outside of snowboarding—relationships and personal fulfillment—to reignite his competitive fire and win again.

Feeling depressed and blaming others, Young's perspective shifted after meeting author Stephen Covey. Covey reframed his high-pressure situation not as a problem, but as one of the greatest platforms for personal growth he'd ever seen. This shift from victimhood to ownership was transformative for Young's career and life.

By mentally shifting blame for a last-second strategy change to his coach, Shaun White adopted a "who cares" attitude. This released the pressure he was feeling, allowing him to relax and execute a perfect run, showing that less intense focus can be beneficial.

White uses less important events strategically. He'll show up knowing he won't win to assess competitors' skills and strategies without revealing his own. This "long game" approach prioritizes major goals over winning every single time.

In his first murder trial, a terrified John Grisham nearly fled the courtroom. The subsequent, unexpected "not guilty" verdict provided such an enormous "thrill of that win" that it completely reframed the traumatic experience. This shows how a single, powerful positive outcome can overwrite a narrative of failure and fuel future ambition.

A crash requiring 62 stitches just before the Olympics served as an ultimate test of White's desire. The incident solidified his commitment by forcing him to consciously accept the risk of severe injury to achieve his goal.

Instead of focusing on the immense pressure of winning the Olympics, Shaun White set a secondary goal: get on the Rolling Stone cover in specific pants. This made the primary objective more enjoyable and less intimidating, serving as a powerful motivator.

Lindsey Vonn views crashing as part of her job description and a necessary tool for finding her limits. Instead of avoiding the memory, she meticulously analyzes videos of her crashes to understand her mistakes and improve, treating catastrophic failure as invaluable feedback.

A sports psychologist’s best match was one he lost. He prioritized achieving a higher level of play over the ego-driven scoreboard. This mindset helps leaders learn from setbacks and focus on process improvement rather than just outcomes, fostering resilience and growth.